Steve Clifford to step down as Hornets coach after season
During his two tenures (2013-2018, 2022-2024) as the Hornets’ coach, Steve Clifford secured 241 victories.
Steve Clifford, the Head Coach of Charlotte Hornets, has announced his resignation effective at the end of the 2023-24 regular season when his contract expires. He will continue to coach the team for the remaining seven games and is anticipated to transition into an advisory role within the front office from next season. The Hornets will start looking for a new head coach right away.
“Stepping down now is the right move for me,” Clifford stated. “I think it benefits both me and the organization. I’m enthusiastic about what lies ahead for the Hornets, from our young, talented players to Jeff’s role in leading our basketball operations, and Rick and Gabe’s vision for the organization. I’d like to express my gratitude to all the Hornets players and staff for their dedication over the last two seasons, and to our loyal fans for consistently supporting our team.”
CONFIRMED: The Hornets’ Head Coach Steve Clifford has officially declared that he will resign from his current position at the end of this season. He is anticipated to transition into an advisory role within the front office next season. The search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) April 3, 2024
“Ever since our days in Brooklyn, I’ve had immense respect for Coach Cliff, and fully support his decision to step down,” stated Jeff Peterson, Hornets Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. “His expertise in basketball, coaching skills, and work ethic are highly regarded across the NBA. Despite facing challenging conditions over the past two years, our players have consistently shown dedication, effort, and growth. On behalf of the entire Hornets organization, I’d like to express our gratitude to Steve for all his hard work, and we’re excited about him staying within the organization.”
Steve will remain as the team’s coach for the rest of this season. However, we will commence our search for a new head coach right away. We aim to appoint someone who aligns with our values and vision of cultivating our young team and establishing a culture and identity grounded in teamwork, responsibility, and competitiveness. We will carry out an exhaustive search to pick the most suitable head coach for the Hornets’ future.
Clifford was hired on June 24, 2022, marking his second stint with the Hornets. He previously served as head coach from 2013 – 2018, leading the team to two playoff appearances, and his 241 victories as Charlotte’s head coach are the most in franchise history. Clifford also served as head coach of the Orlando Magic for three seasons (2018-21), guiding the team to two playoff berths. He became the 75th coach in NBA history to amass 300 wins. In total, Clifford has more than 25 years of NBA experience as a scout, assistant coach and head coach.
